Automatic musical instrument.



C. F. STUDDARD.'

AUUMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

vAPPLICM'HJN, FILED MAR.23.1910. www FEB. zu. |918. 1,282,137.

Patented ont 22,1918;

1,5 tension will betreated as having `a posicase if exhaust were consideredin the popu- .varied when necessary nev lected for. the present and the upward scribed- 'pu ll by thelv spring may be considered sub- 'tionaccon'ipanying movement of the piston structure. ,Thisvsubstantially uniform pull of the spring contributes to control the plston structure and valve -31 as presently de- In discussin the various pneumatic .in-

fluences broug t .to bear upon the piston structure, the so-called exhaust i' or air tive pressurerelative tova perfect vacuum .of zero pressure. This mode of treatment is more convenient in explaining the operation Aof the, piston structure than would be the ,1a/r sense -of exerting a. pull by suction as distinguished from a -push by pressure.

t do not contain regulated pressure.

Du-cts 40, 41 and 42 enter respectively the cylinder chambers opposite the piston faces 11:,y andv 2. Each duct is controlled (as hereinafter explained)so as to admit to its cylinder vchamber either atmospheric presf sure, orA regulated pressure from the chest 30 12;' and the regulated pressure may be admitted to any one or more, `or all, of the chambers while latmospheric pressure will be present in those chambers, if any, which These pressures withinjthe cylinder chambers acti upwardly upon the piston faces, y and z, and'together with the upward pull of the spring 37, constitute the forces tending to move the piston structure upwardly.

These upwardly d-irected forces are opposed by atmospheric pressure acting downwardly upon the interior of the piston structure, which is open to atmosphere through a ,port 43. In the illustrative apparatus the upwardly exposed piston areas substantially eq'lalj the downwardly exposed areas w, y Van 2.

pressure on the areas m, y and e will be opposed and balanced by equal downward pressure of atmosphere upon equal areas.

.present 'invention is embodied in When Vthe a constructionwhich employs exhaust as. disl .tinguished-rom compressed^- air,

latedfexhaust or pressure is f always Vlessthan atmospheric pressure.. \5

the reguf Consequently when 'regulated-'pressure is admittedtoall the ceyl l, by means of the key 138; but this capacity for adjustment may be It', therefore, atmosphere be admit-J4 ted to all the cylinder chambers, its upward inder chambers, 'the upward pneumatic pressure on the piston structure is then at its minimum, being of course, less than when atmosphere vilirndmittedl to an)J one or more of the cylinder chambers.- Downward atmospheric pressure, being thus opposed b v. the minimum pneumatic upward pressure, substantially predoininates and moves the piston' structure downwardly7 the spring 37 preferably having its tension adjusted so that its upward pull will be overcome more or less by said downward atmosphericvpressure. This 4downward movement of the piston lstructure tends to close the valve ports between tliechests 12 and 14/with the result that regulated pressure may be largely cut off from the infiuence of high exhaust in the chest 14. Under these conditions, z'. rf. when regulated pressure is admitted to lall the cylinder chambers, notes are played with minimum loudness available in the specific to the influence of high exhaust and the less will be the intensity of sounded notes. Accordingly, the general operation of the cylinder and piston structure described above 10.)v

may be conveniently summarized thus z-admitting regulated pressure to ya cylinder chamber diminishes intensity; admitting atmospheric pressure to a cylinder chamber increases mtensity.

There is always some leakage of atmosphere tothe chest 12 as, for "instance, past the various-valve mechanisms and from the motor pneumatics, such leakage tending constantly to 'increase regulated pressure and 110 actually'increasing it unlessthe leakage be 'fully compensated 'by exhaust through the fchest 14'by way of the` valve ports 'in the' chamber' 30. Under thesefcircumstances, whenever the piston structure moves" downwardly and.- thereby restricts the openingsv between the chests12 and Mythe resultA is to increase reulated pressure. This increasev is regulate pressure is,.of course, communicated practically instantaneously to those' 120 cylinder. chambers which-contain re lated pressure. Consequently, whenever e piston structure' moves downwardly because .of downward atmospheric pressure predominating over upward regulated-pressure, the` 125 u lindirect result is to increase the"upwardly l acting regulated pressure' and therebyftp de crease 'thepredominanceof downward ati, Y* mospheric pressure. The greaterthe extentof downward mov `nient of the piston strucfv `ture-the greateimwil] he the describetl de- 'n iosphere pressa re'.l i

'Inn an)1 instaneo the piston eti-notare vwill 'more dmvnwartll'i' until the pl't'alominanee ot' downward at'nnmplierie pressure din'iin ishea to auch an extent that the upward pull of the` apring balances the diuiinished protlominanee of tltnrnward atmoapherit.: pren- -""wliierweupon the-piston Itrueture eoines In like manner, whenever the, piaton truth ture nmrew` upwardhr to enlare't-x the openings` between the ehesta ili: and `l-htlle eliit "kia to diminish regulated pressure lu' exhaust `the sprintf: sut-h upward mm'elnent ol". the piston strueture has the etl'eet o'l deel'easlng the predominanoe ot upward preasnreaml sneh decrease eontinuea during upward movement ot the pieton Htrl'ieture until there is no ,longer anyr predolninanee and the opposed ftutnesnw lnllaneed, whereupon the piston structure eomesto rest.

ln the operation ot" the pet-ille` illustrativo aliparatna theretol'e. `the'piaton nti-notare is constantly under the eontrol ot" opposed fort-es tending always to lialantfe eat-fh other' and hold the pietonstructure` as it were, in snsptaiaitm `between them: that; is tosay, the specific apparatue` tends eonstantl)Y to estaliil'ish a `halaneing equation between the op--I,

llosed t'oreea aetinol upon the piston. Snell movement o'l the piston .Htl-mature as ma) oeeur when thai'. balancing' equation is da tllrlied`r talteni plat-e praetit'ally instantaf netnlaly so that a new lmlaneintl equation appropriate to thenewlyinitiated conditions is immediately set np.

The aotnal variation ot" regulated prua sure may result `l'rom a number ot' causes. or a eomlnnatnm of (faust-a. ,auch that the piston `s trlurtnre and \'al\'e 31 may or may not he moved to ass-int in a reestablishment of tho pressure equation above ret'erred to. whieh lroldel the piston structure at rentand 1n hal.-

anee. l

Normally, and eren at a time when it desired to maintain eonstant regulated pres* Sure. Home. leakage ol atmosphere to the clienti 11%. and various part` nonununieatingf, t'lnnmiith. may4 tend to reduce the regulated tension in mild elieszt, whether or not an;y of the motoril'niennnities lD is in action; A reduction inregulateditension 'trom auch causo may be eonunumated to some extent hy leak age between the highrtension chest l-l; and thel chest 12, as by leakage past the piston -rather than to reatore it.

dra't'twl are lmule upon the refnlate -when a new and dillerent regulate valre 3T. rslt, l'iowever, `regalated kpressnre` j inere is enough tol'listurb` a prevailing pre. rey equation. there 'mayirt fulti'al' 1rpward .movement o't' the pistonistrlieturmtiea lai-ging the, opening` between the. Cliestsilatl `and l-l enoutrlrto permit high exhallstyltoy relatore the intended regulated pl ehest .12. lh'ueh notion takes' promptly and quickly. that in eli'eetw. to maintain regulated tensionisulratantlall eonstant (until intentionallliy Eat-h motor pneumatie l"`.. when it y i tamal atmosphere wlneh 'tendsftolmt t. regulated prehsureln the cheaty '12 when he 8 jet-ted to 'l'requent luetuations llt', t ot the motor pneumatic Vtlheno rtluetuatoi'i so increases regulatetltp .Y that a pressure eqnationia disturbed, the p ton valve Ill may he moved toaj't n'. equation deerilad,` As already lsu; this restoring.aetiou takes place :antillillolcly` thatit rather a maintaining aettottinwtespeel to ita4 Lgeneral etletzt upon tl|e 'egulattldag preaam-e, ,i t.

From the ahove t'apptalhrs that `wl sure ehent 12 and l'lom whattu premere mavhe maintained ali desty 'ihed llalanein;r optajation slri'leture `trtmtrolling eonnnfun' i tween the elnsts ll! and, Ll. lyrl'tnedia luy, however. when a deliherat l change ia madeiin the pstonare: to regulated preas'ltree the pressiu is temporarily` dus is established.L y i i It will he notedrthat the .regulating o't' the piston strueture may serve 'me maintain they desired regula {l} H spite ot' an)r drafts made .thtteupol instant-e` lrvv the motor inieaninlt"y is to say. the regljulationv does l'lotnneetI result from varying!` commnnieatioi the high exhaust elxestlantl tl` p'reaanre ehest. the piston area aete'l upon lated pressure he ifchanged th l erahle inereaae in regulattalj prua. u inanded to` reestablish thefpressur fe r-ltsnnme further that thisehange area he aeeom|ninied hy the aetion; sideralile number` of motor i w'hieh in etl'eet alone sulliee. i regulated ypre: nre so as to balancing: pre ire equation. erenmstaneea egulated `press u: ,i from a` lower 4to a utliigher; veorlnuti ll. of ifeonf The preceding description pertains to an l mechanismabout to be described.

vso

lillustrative form ofexpression-controlling means by4 which changes 1n pneumatic condition afi'ectlng the operation of the motor pneumatics is more or less immediately va ried and controlled. The manner in which suchl expresslori-controlling means or its equivalent or substitute, may be governed to cause notes to be played with different intensities, will be next explained.

The specific illustrative apparatus of the drawings comprises mechanism whereby the immediate expression-controlling means may be governed wholly automatically, as, for instance, by the ultimate control of supplementary perforations in a note sheet. or

the like. This wholly automatic control of the immediate expression means will be firstdescribed.

Referring againjothe drawings, the duct 40 leads to a so-called three-way valve or switch 46 (shown also in Fig. 2) by which the duct 40 may be thrown intocommunication with the wholly automatic governing mechanism and alternatively with an illustrative, partly manual control hereinafter vmore fully described. In the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the valve 46 is in position to cause the duct 40 to communicate withgthe partially manual control mechanism referred to; but for the present it will beassumed that the valve or switch 46 is turned to open communication between thev duct 40 and a duct 40a leading to the illustrative wholly automatic` governing Itispreferred that the switch 46 affect, in its respective positions, a number of different ducts in addition to the duct 40. To suit this purpose the valve 46 may com- `grises.- cylindrical plug as shown in Fig. 2,

tting snugly in a casing 47 and having milled v"'therein a number of segmental o r like. recesses 48.A As shown in Fig. 1 the v lve 46 .may be provided with a handle' enabling -it to'be.. turned manually or other# When the valve is turned through `ninety degrees from the position shown. in Fig. 2., it will throw the duct 40 into com- ,municationfwith the duct 40a as alreadyl suggested;v For the present, therefore, we may consider. the duct 40, as, in effect, a continuation of the duct 40,

-Thus ducts 4Q, and 40 connect the cylinderchamber opposite the piston area with a valve chamber' 49. In said chamber is a duplex valve 50 arranged for opening an upper port to atmosphere and alternatively opening a port from the chamber 49 through a duct 51 to the regulated pressure chest 12. The valve 50 is controlled by a diaphragm'over a chamber 54 which communicates with a duct 56. A duplex valve 58 controls a port from the duct 56 to atmosphere, and a second port from the duct 56 to a chamber 59 communicating by a duct 60 with the high exhaust chest 14. The valve 58 is controlled by a diaphragm over a chamber 62 into which leads a 'duct 63 which passes to the casing 47 of the valve 46. dien the valve 46 yis in position to open the duct 40 to the duct 40, it also opens the duct 63 to a duct 63a leading to a tracker vent T.

Then the tracker T is open atmosphere is admitted through ducts 63a and 63 to the chamber 62, the diaphragm of which is thereby distended and the valve ielevated so as to vent the diaphragm chamber 54 to atmosphere and distend its diaphragm to elevate the valve 50 and vent the ducts 401 and 40 to atmosphere, thereby admitting atmosphere to the cylinder of the piston structure oppositethe piston face The converse of this operation, whereby the ducts 40 and 40 closed to .atmosphere and opened to regulated pressure, will be'described hereinafter.

The duct 41 from the cylinder of the expression-controlling means leads also to the valve 46 and communicates with the duct-41a between the ducts 40 and 40a, in the man--` ner already described. A y

The valve mechanism already described, whereby atmosphere may be admitted to the ducts 40a and 40, is duplicated to control the admission of atmosphere to the ducts 41n and 41, the corresponding parts of the valve mechanism for the latter being indica-ted by the numerals 149, 151.I 152, etc.-i. e. each part being numbered like the corresponding part ofthe valve mechanism for the duet 40a, with the addition of a hundred digit 1.

In the valve mechanism for the duct 41a, a duct 163 leads to the valve or switch 46 which, in the assumed position of said valve, holds the'duct 163v in communication withl the duct .163a leading to a tracker vent T. As the valve mechanism for the duct 41a is shown Ain Fig. 1, `it is-assumed that the tracker vent-.ATa is open, admitting atmosphere to the ducts 163 and 163, thereby d-istending the ,diaphragm of chamber 162, venting duct 156 and chamber 154 to atmosphere and admitting atmosphere to the l I ducts 41E* and 41 and'to the cylmder chamber opposite thepiston face y. Thus, whenever a tracker vent T or T is-open, atmos- For. the purpose et the specific alivparatus of thedrawing, uit, is unneces""lry to connect the uct 42 with the switch 1t). i--Xecordingly ltitliei-wdiict 42 mayr lead directly to a valve chaniliier 249 which may be exactly like the iiilian'iloei 1.412) and 49 for the other two valve mechanisms, which control respectively the ducts 11 and 10, Associated with the lticl'nimber 219 are aI duplexvvalve 250; .duct 251.. tiiiaphragm chamber 251; and other par corresponding to those. already defscribed in connection with the ducts 41. and the duct 40, such parts pertaining to the '1duct 12 heilig indicated by like reference characters having thev hundred digit 2. A.

t iet263 leading to the diaphragm chamber 262 may pa directly to a tracker vent T" as slio'wnfin*Fig. 1. As iii the case ot' the 2li-other tracker controlled valve mechanisms, the admiss .in of atmosphere at the tracker ve 'tw'.lb di .ends the diaphragm oi. ehaiiiher 2t) lifts the valve 258, vents pie liaphragm `chamber Jfto atmosphere, itts the valve 301250, and. admits atmosphere to the chamber 24);iliitft and to the cylinder chamber opv once opened by venting the corresponding Sbiitracker duct, the valve preferably continues olieireven though the tracker vent may be immediately closed, as, for instance, when the tracker vent is opened by'a circular perration ina traveling music sheet. .Tn the citic apparatus, this result arises from t ie fact that once the valve 158, for example, is opened to admit atmosphere to the diayphragiii chamber 151, said valve 158 is held in` that position by atmosphere admitted 451 past the v'alve 158 into a duet 17()` through a hleeder vent 172, and duct 171A (shown in dotted lines), which cominuncates with the diaphragm (.fhanibei 162.` The chamber 15!) abovethe diaphragm conimlniitai-tes as deiscrihed with the high exhaust chest.. 14. Thus so longv as atmosphere is admitted tl'iri'iugh d uct 170 to duct 1.74, the dialihragm (if-chamber 162 will remain distended and atinosi'ihere will continue in the correspond- 'liing cylinder chai'nber y.. The parts just de.-

scribed as. pertaining to the valve. 15() are duplicated to correspond with the valves Si() and 250;

From the preceding discussion it will ap! etpear that smallperforations, circula-r for in. stanti in a music sheet may be employed to i. open .he tracker vents T, T and 'l"'whieh may be` immediately c] 'ed thereafter if deired. then usedwiththeillustrative apparatus, each such perfoiiatijon has the. ct-

then one of the valves 5t), yl5() or 25() is feet of introducing atniosphereto `a'cylinder chamber, and even aftertlie tracker vent is closed, 'atmosphere willeontinue in the cylinder chamber until pu rpiiisely exhausted at. .any desired subsequent time in a manner such as that about to be described. f

The specific apparatus shown in the drawj .ings comprises a single valve mechanism,` controlled by a single tracker vent, which i may coi'iljierate with .all or any ot the three abovedescribed iii'echaiiisms, tonegative the etlect ot opening one or more ot the tracker vents'T, T, T". This single valve mechanism is shown' hy way of illustration atthe right of Fig. 1.

A tracker vent R communicates by a duct 80 with the casing .17 of the valve 46, which valve, in `the position assumed for the present5 holds the .duet 80 in communication kwith a di.iet8()"leadirig to a diaphragml chamber 82. r1`he latter controlsa duplex'v valve S4 which in its alternative positions, admits atmosphere to a duct 8G, or ope-ns'said duet into a second' duct SSdeading to the high exhaust chest 1.4. Anextension of the duet. S6 communicates with each of the three diaphragm chambers 90, 15..)0, 290. Thus when.atmosphere is admitted to the duet 86, past` the valve S4, the diaphragms ot' chain-y liers EN),y 11N), and 29() are'distendeifl; In def scribing the effect of this operation it is convenient to refer to the chamber .190 and associated parts. i o K As already explained, `the valve .158 is held in the position shown by atmospheie admit-ted to the chamber 1ti2past`the valve 15S and `through the ducts 17() and 174... 'hen, however, the diaphragm ot' chamber 15)() is distended, `it lifts a disk valve 192 and drop, shutting otl' atmosphere ,trom the diaphragm chambery 154 and throwing the.

latter into communication with thechaniber 15S) and the high exhaust cliestH.

through the duct 16th then the diaphragm chamber 154 is thus exhaustedy the valve 150 `is permitted to drop vshutting off atmosphere from the cylinder ducts 41 and "l1 and throwing the duct 41* into communication with the duct 151' `leading tothe reggia#` lated pressure vehest12.` In this'. manner, merely .by opening`the tracker vent R, the-` ducts 41 and 41 andthe cvlinderchamber y are closed to.atmospheretand ,openedlto regulatedijiressure."` l i. H N n The operation just. described,` "fai" a'sl f the tracker vent lt be open. the opening' of concerns the specific illustrative mechanism, depends upon bleeding the diaphragm chainber 162. If the tracker'ducts 63 and 63a be opened through the vent T, at the same time that'` the verit R is opened to initiate the bleeding of diaphragm chamber. lGQ-satmosphere will enter the chamber 162 from the tracker vent more rapidly than it can be exhausted therefrom by rthe described bleeding through the ducts' 170 and 171; therefore the effect of opening the vent R is negatived, and in such circumstances the valve 158 VwilLremain open'and atmosphere will continue in the corresponding cylinder chamber. l

Also, -if the tracker vent T, for instance, be open simultaneously with the tracker vent R, thelatter will. inaugurate atendency to bleed the chamber 62 and keep the valve 5S closed'in the position shown, but the simultaneous opening of the tracker vent T will admit atmosphere to the .chamber B'moi'e rapidly than it can be exhausted by bleeding and therefore the valve 5S will be lifted in spite of' the opening of the tracker vent It. will be understood, therefoie'that iii the illustrative apparatus, whether or not any vent or vents T. T, T", ivill have its 'normal and. usual effect to admit atmosphere to the appropriate chamber or chambers of' the cylinder.

()n the other hand, if any vent or vents T, Ta, Th be opened and then closed tatmos phere being thereby admitted to the cylinder) and the vent lf be thereafter open, the previous effect of opening the vent or vents T, T and -Tl will be negatived and regu-.

lated pressure will be, admitted lto thc cylinder. The effect of opening and closing` the various tracker vents .in the specific mechanism' may be readily understood by reference to an illustrative forni of' perforated music sheet dagrainnicd in Fig. 3 iii which are shown four lilies of' perforations for governing the expressioil-controlling tracker vents.

vThis illustrativo music sheet may be assumed to be traveling in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3. The tracker G is shown in dotted lines, the ventl T being open through a perforation in the sheet as shown. All the other vents are closed. For brevity the perforatious in the sheet for operatingr the motor pneuinat-ics may be disrcga ri led.

lVhcn a note sheet and tracker are related, as shown in Fig. 2l, the various v alve mechaiiisi'ns occupy exactly ihepositions illustrated in Fig. l. If non' the music sheet, progress iii. the dirci-lion of the arrow, perforation 101 will present-ly open the vent.

lf; this will ilistciid the diaphragm of chambei' S2; open the duct S6 lo atmosphere and admit the latter to diaphragm chamber 100;

lift the valve 192; and throw the diaphragm chamber 162 into communication with the high exhaust chest 14 through vthe duct 174,

f past the bleeder 172, through the chamber regulated pressure. is present in all of the cylinder chambers; and, as previously explained herein, notes will be played with the minimum intensity available in the use of the specific apparat-iis.

W'licnthe music sheet progresses further the perforation 10'2 opens the vent T and, as will be understood. the ducts 40a and 40 'and cylinder chamber .r are opened to at* inosphere. Thereafter a perforation 103 and a perforationV 104 register respectively and simultaneousl)v with the vents R and Tf.' The perforation 10B negatives the prerions effect. of' the perforation 102 and opens the cylinder chamber Itito regulated pressure. The perforation 103 is ineffective, however. in respect to perforation 104 which opens the vent- T and thcreb)7 admits atmosphere to. -the cylinder chamber y.

lVlicii the next pcrforatious 105, 106 open the vents T. and T". atmosphere is admitted to the cylinder chambers a: and The prerions effect of the perforation 101 endures. and therefore by reason of the three perform tions 10i. 105 and 106. atmosphere is present in all of thc cylinder chambers. Next a perforation 10T opens the vent R and simultaneously a perforation 108 opens the vent Tfl. The. effect of the perforation 10T is to negative the previous effect of lboth the pert'orations 105 and 106 and to open the cylinder chambers .r and to regulated pressure. 'llie perforation 10i', however. isineffective in respect to perforation 10S which merely continues the previously established effec-t of the perforation 104. leavingr the/cylinder chamber 1/ open ,to atmosphere.

Next. pcrforations 109 and 110 reinstate atmosphere iii the cylinder chambers a2 and .a and again all the cylinder chambers are open to atmosphere.

Next, a perforation 111 opens the vent R ata time when all the other vent-s are closed andv thereby negatives the effects of all three perforations 10S. 109 and 110 with the result that all the cylinder chambers are closed-to atmosphere and opened to regulated pressure.

The preceding discussion will suffice to indicate the variety of combinations of pert'oiations whereby atmosphere and regulated liressure may be alternated in one or more of' the cylinder chambers with the resiiltantf variations iii regulated pressure and in the intensities of' notes played thereby.

8 cesena? A further capacity for expression control isl provided for in the illustrative mechanism, in that the key 300 may constitute means for consciously controlling the expression without conjoint automatic control, as for instance, when a note sheet is em-A ployed having no expression perforations. For example, when the valve 46 is set in the position shown in Fig. 1, it will admit and maintain regulated pressure in all of the c linder chambers opposite the faces fr,

y/ an( z inthe absence of expression perfora-4 tions to control the tracker vents, T, Ta and' Tl. Thus, when a note sheet having` no expression perforations is employed, regulated tension, in the specific apparatus, will be present in the cylinder chambers an( the resulting pneumatic infiuence upon the-piston 34 and valve 31 will tend to. move theentire piston structure downwardly; This downward tendency of the piston structure may be opposed in any desired .degree by pressure upon the key 300 so that the operator may consciously vary regulated pressure by merely manipulating the key 300. In the specific apparatus, the spring 3T opposes the downward tendency of the piston structure, and depression of the key 300 augments this opposition by the spring 37 to any degree desired by the operator so that he may cause the instrumentto play 'from .pianissimo to fortissii'i'io or vice versa by merely changing the pressure on the key 300. Thus the key 300 and its connections exemplifies means for performing the double function of modifying automatic control when the latter is used, and of controlling expression wholly consciously when the automatic control is not used. At the same time it is possible to use the same ultimate expression controlling means, exemplified by the valve 31 and piston structure, to be governed by the wholly automatic mechanism, or by the latter as consciously modilied,'or by the means which is wholly consciously operated; in other words c the automatic and conscious expression controls may operate the same ultimate means and in substantially the saine manner. For example, in the specific apparatus, the wholly automatic control operates through varying the downwardly acting pneumatic pressure opposed by the substantially uniform upward pull of the spring 3T; and the wholly manual control operates by varying the upward pull of said spring; while the manual modification of automatic control may involve the varying of both the downward pneumatic pressures and the upward pulls. The mechanical elements and mode of operation by which different intensities are inaugurated and imiii'itaiued, may remain the same however controlled, the control being exercised mcrely by varying forces which act'upon the said mechanical elements.

Still other effects can be obtained with the illustrative mechanism shown in the drawings,v For instance,'those skilled in the art are familiar with various attempted expedients for emphasizing or accenting certain selected notes in a composition as for instance tlieiiie notes.

It hasbeen proposed heretofore to emphasize such selected notes by introducing to the motor pneumatics, the high exhaust of the feeder bellows for playing notes intended to be accented; and using only a lesser degree of exhaust for other noteswhich were not intended to be accented. Yith such an arrangement it has been proposed to employ a single auxiliary tracker vent, which, being opened by a supplemental perforation in the note sheet would throw the feeder bellows into direct communication with the wind chest for the motor pneumatics. Such expedients as these were capable of producing a certain degree of diti'ereiitiation between themeV notes and accoimuniment notes, for instance, but the differentiation by such means was objectionably monotonous in its effects in that the exhaust from'tlie feeder bellows caused accented notes to be played with substantially uniform increasdintensity, while the other lesser exhaust played the accompaniment notes with substantially uniform minimum intensity ,'in other words, there. were but two Vintensities available and no delicacy of shading in expression waspracticable in snchrapparatus. It has also been proposed to afford opport'unity for some variatioiipinexpressiom'by .rendering the exhaust in the wind chest of the motor pneumatics variable by varying ithe vigor with which foot-operated feeder bellows were pumped; if pumped rapidly and vigorously, the exhaust would be in-Vv creased. and notes played with a relatively loud intensity, while slow pumping would diminish the degree of exhaust andrcause notes to be played more softly. i While such an expedienty provided forsome variations in intensity, the variations were at best extremely crude and no 'well defined or. refined shades of expression were available by such means. I l

'l`he illustrative appaiaitusj of the drawings. embodying tliepresent inventionQiisusccptiblel of use in connection withk a note sheet. having but a single line of expression perforations which, in ay manner somewhat similar to the conl rol by the note sheet shown in 'Fig'. 3. may control the expression mechanism wholly automatically, or with some modilicatioi'i by an auxiliary device about to be t'lescribed.

When such a note'sheet, having but a single line of supplemental perforations, is employed in the specific mechanism of the drawings, the valve 46 is moved from the position,heretofore assumed, into the posihave but the single effect of increasin liii-1 tensity toa substantially fixedvv and anni orm I by the key 300). It appears, therefore, that `only a single supplemental erf'ration inthe note sheet may, atthe wil of 'the operator, in the s cific mechanism, cause notes to be played with any one of several intensities. Whereas, inthe. prior art devicesdiscussed above, a supplemental perforation could maximum, in the' present illustra'tiviiiechanism such sin lesupplemental perforation may be utilize to institute any selectedl one of a plurality of available intensities.

' features o stance, the usual fixed relation between'sup` The described manner of using'a single row 'of supplemental perforations' presents substantial advantage; for inplementa'l per-forations and note perforations in a sheet may well determine, more accurately 'than' wouldv be practicablewithf manualcont-rol by the average operator, the

` .moment when the expression mechanism is broughtl ,into'pl'ay to affect the intensity of the selected note vor notes. In other words, the fixed relations between lthe supplemental andA note perforations of the sheet, prearranged by the experts who lay out the sheets,

may determine the ex'a'ct moment when the expression mechanism initiates its intended operation. At the same time, the operator may, at will, predetermine which one of several intensities shall be given to a` note or notes when the sup lemental perforationy starts the operation o the expression mechanism. f

Added .to Vthe described flexibility of expression-control, in connection with a note sheet for but a single line of supplemental perforations-fis the still further capacity for modification by means of the-key 300.01' its substitute having a connection with the expression mechanism, such, for example, as

that described with reference to the piston structure. y p '4 For instance, if both the keys 411 and 420 be depressed (assuming the tracker vent '12 to be open) atmosphere will be admitted to the cylinder opposite the piston faces a: and y,"if at thef same timethekey 300 be depressed, the effect may be as though atmos.

phere hadbeen admitted also op o site the piston face z, or may be interm inte `that,

effect and the effect of 'atmosphere opposite y the faces 'a1 and y alone. l

'It will be noted that the tracker .ductSOA is cut off from the duet 80 when the valve' `46 is thrown to position to switch in the ducts 4:0b vand 41. Thereforatlie trackeri vent R is in any case idle, and'it is imma terial whether or not it ismaintained closedby the note sheet. For the purposes ofthe specific apparatus, however, it is prefered that the duct 80 be continuously" openL to atmosphere, and, accordingly, when the valve 46 occupies vthe position shown in Figs. 1

and 2, the duct 8O communicates with an open-endedl duct 450. With this arrange-v ment the diaphragm of chamber 82 is continuously distended and atmosphere isadmitted 'continuously tothe duct 86. The effect of this upon the valves 92 and 192 is immaterial, since the mechanisms associated with said respective valves are temporarily inoperative, their controlling ducts (i3-and 163 and also their ducts 40* and 41* running to blind ends in the valve46, as yshown in Fig. 2. The continuous presence of atmosphere -in the duct 86, serves, however, to hold the diaphragm of chamber 290 continuously distended, thereby bleeding the-chamber 262 and ultimately causing the valve 258 to close downwardly, and maintaining {.regulated tension in the cylinder chamber opposite the face z.

Thusit will be seen that to switch the duct 80 into communication with the open-ended duct 450 serves to maintain regulated pressure always opposite the piston face 2,' this pertains of course only to the specic apparatus of the drawing, it being evident to those skilled in the art that the duct,.42, if. desired, could .be switched from one control to another in a manner similar to that described 1n con-.

nection with the ducts 40 and 41, thereby permitting variations in the pneumatic condition in the cylinder opposite the face a and extending the scope of expression variations available in theftlescribed apparatus.

Preferably, the duct 63* from the tracker vent T communicates with a blind end 452 when the valve "46 has the position Vshown in Figs. land 2. Thus the tracker vent T is idle and it is immaterial whether or not it is covered by the.- note sheet.

In the specific mechanism the duct 263 leading from the tracker vent Th leads directly to its diaphragm chamber 262, and for this reason it is preferable that the tracker vent Tb be maintained closed by the note sheet when only a single line of perforations is being used.

Itis not indispensable that a note sheet with only a single line of supplemental perforations be used with the described apparatus when the switch 46 occupies thc posi'- tion shown in Figs. 1 and 2; on the contrary it would be-possble to-use under those circumstances the note sheet shown in Fig. 3. In such vuse the supplemental perforations registering with the tracker vent R would have no effect since thc duct 80*L of the vent 1B runs to an open tube at the switch 46.

Likewise, the perforations registering with tbe vent T `.would be idle since theductfli. running to said vent, also runs to a blind end 452. The perforations to register with the vent'l wollldffnave the eiiects of those shown in the note sheet of Fig. 4 and hereinbefore described. Thel perfor-ations registering with the tracker vent Tb would each admitatmosphere to the cylinder' `opposite 'thepi on" face and atmosphere would be exhau. edl from said chamber, when the vent `T-"vvas again close by the described continuous venting of t e `duct 80 to atmosphere, l'maintaining atmosliihere always in ftherf-duetlA 86. y y

.e The above `descrihezil aplgmratus suilices to illustrate the variety of forms and organizations'rin which the various features of this invention may be embmflle While it is not indispensable that. all the features of the invention beused conjointly, itis desirable, as y``willappear to those skilled. inthe art,.that' an instrumentintended for general commercial exploitation provide a `widely flexible opportunity for expr ion-control such as that'available in the spe ificapparatus above described. For instance, vthe specific apparatusfcoi'nprises a plurality of dili'erent governing n'lechanisms for the yellipjressiony controlling means exemphedrby fthe valve' 311:"0ne such governingr means comlfirises the :valve mechanismrl pertaining to the valves `50, 150`vand 25() whichinay be controlled wholly automatically -ifrom the n traclt'eri' Another suclr governing means comprises the valves' 400, 40G and 424. with theiry associated devices by which the, time tlleoperation of the expression-controlling means" 1`nay` be predeteri'n'lned ailtrm'latlcally while diierentdegreesy of intensity of `the manual y control. The 'correlation of 'two suclijgoverning means in the same in` rus e men'tfg.'` eat-he 1attera 'wide scope of use lnftl'le* specific illustrative organization hereinbefore described, it `will be noted that.

4b the y'governing means cannpris'ing the valve i `mechanislns"for'the valves- 50, 150 and- 250, Uhas thecapacity to predetermine and initiate "various, levels or grades of. intensity each of Wlii'ch,\'when once established, endures until y*deliberately replaced by'another. For instahcegwhen perforations such aslOI-. and

i' `3 once establisha certain regu- T'ated Iessure in the" che 12, that regulated `pre yure `will continue and will i. lay notes'y fdrni intenslty until regu atedpresisj'i'ntentiona]ly varied byf succeeding lrforations. The secon l governin* 'means uitefdiilerent "from that just explained; atji to say the governin' 'means comprisg tl valves 400 406 an 424 is arranged uit or emphasize selected notes Aor groups -ofunotes with a merelresumption of the previously prevailin relationbetween the sounding of notes and if notesii'l'a ybe redetermined, if desired by 1 n y 'p i Tpen'sable that all the'features ofthe inve'n` with perforated note sheets, ortlie like, ofv

"above mentioned, con'iprising the va ves 400, 406 andl 424,' has, the purposes ofv the*y specificillustrative apparatus, a capacity v momentary-k cl'ect followed bv a substantie ly immediate tcnsity. s In other words, in the useo` the Ygoverning means comprising the valves 400,'` 70 l 4061 and `424,- there may besone substantially uniforl'n level yof intensity `at which `most ofv a composition is played, the governing means serving fron'xftin'le; to time" momen` wtarly to accent or emphasize the selef.;ted".l5v

.note or notes, after which `the normal uni`= form-levelof intensity is substantially imi mediately resumed. n short, one of the two governing means predetermin s dif-- ferent lenduring levels or grades of "in- 8`0 tensity; whilel the vother governing means may predetermine merely mnl'nentary accents. The Y presence of two such different A I neansforgoverning expression, in the same aiment, contributes"oliiviously a Wide and desirablescope of expressiomcontrol. In addition to the two governing devicesA just pointed out, which in thcspecifc in-4 strmnent are alternatively ,operative-there' may be a third governil'xg means such as 9o that exen'ivplificd by the key 30() and. its con-` nections with the' illustrative piston struc'-l ture. By means of this third governing" jm'eans the operatoris aiiiorded at'rall times an oplmin'tunity to varv theautomatic partly automatic behavior of the to suit his sion.

As has been stated already, it is not ind yores apparatus own fancy 1n respect to `expre .100 tion be used conjointlysincel they maybe usedto advantage sepz'iratelyl Furthermore, K

itl to be understood that the invention is by no means limited to `the structions, organizations and modesvofop eration hereinliiefore specifically described-fy ,for purposes of illustration, since, asA will be evident to those skilled in thefart,'tlie features of the inventimi `may beyvariously 'l within the scope of 11o embodied and practs the subjoined claims.

1. A tone-governingapparatus formusi-y y cal instruments comprising, in coi'hbination, a tracker; a lcontainer for `regulated' pres- 115 sure; a high exhaust chamber; (a valve to govern communication between regn' y lated pressure and" high exhaust; .expresv @sion-col'ltrolling meai'lsto govern said valve,.

comliirising pneumatically-governedk piston` 120 means; yautomatic 4tracker-ciontrolled 'governing means `for the expressions contro r ling means, ,comprising a pluralitygof valve"` mechanisms to vary `pneumatic action upony said piston mean..`

switch-valve'fmechanism for connecting said 130 'i specific con" l additionaltracker-con* Ltrolled'governmg means for the eiqiression-I l respective governing means alternatively with the expi'ession-controlling means; and a third governing means for the expressioncontrolling means, comprising manually operable means to modify the effects of the other overning means on the expressioncontrol ing means. V

2. A ytone-governing apparatus for musical instruments comprising, in combination, a tracker;.a container for regulated pressure; va high exhaust chamber; a valve to govern communication between regulated pressure and high exhaust; pneuinaticallyoperated vexpression-controlling means to governI said valve; automatic tracker-controlled governing means for the expressioncontrolling means, to vary pneumatic action upon the latter; additional tracker-controlled governing means, comprising a plu- 'rality ot' manually-operable means, to vary pneumatic action yupon the expression-controlling nieans; a switch-valve-mechanism for connecting said respective governing means alternatively with the expressioncontrolling rmeans; and a third governing means for the expression-controlling means, comprising manually operable means to modify the 'effects of the other governingY means on the expression-controlling means. 3. A tone-governing apparatus for inusical instruments comprising, in combination,

a tracker; a container for regulated'pressure; a high exhaust chamber; a valve'to govern communication between regulated pressure and high exhaust; pneumaticallyoperated expression-controlling means to govern said valve; automatic tracker-controlled governing means for the expressioncontrolling means; additional tracker-con- 40 trolled governing means for the expressioncontrollingmeans, comprising a, plurality of manually-operable means; and a switch- Yalve-mechanism4 for connecting said respective' governing means alternatively with the expression-controlling means.

4. A tone-governing apparatus for musical instruments comprising, in combination, a tracker; a container for regulated pressure; a high exhaust chamber; a valve to mgovern communication between regulated pressure and high exhaust; expression-controlling means to govern `said valve; automatic tracker-controlled governing means foi-'the ilxpression-controlling means; addi-Y tional tracker-controlled governing means for the cxpression-controlling means; and a switch-valve-mechanisin for connecting said respective governing means alternatively with the expression-controlling means.

A tone governing apparatus for musical instruments comprising, in combination, acontainer for-regulated pressure; a high exhaust chamber; a valve to govern comnnuiieation between i'egulatedpressure and fifhigh exhaust; expression-controlling means to govern said valve; overning means for v lexhaust chamber; a valve to govern communication between regulated pressure and high exhaust; expression-controlling means 80 to govern said valve; automatic' governing means for the expression-controlling means additional governing means for the expression-controlling means; a switch-valve? mechanism for connecting said respective governing means alternatively with the exipression-controlling means; and a third governing means for the expression-controllingineans, for modifying the effects of the other governing means on the' expression-controlL l90 ling means.

7. A tone-governing `apparatus for musical instruments comprising, in combination, means to provide` pneumatic pressure;,ex pression-controlling means to. varyA said pneumatic pressure for sounding tones With different intensities' a plurality of governing means; means rendering said governing means alternatively operative for the ex res- `sion-controlling means; and an additional i60 governing means for the expression-controlling` means, for modifying the effects ofthe other governing means on the exp'l't'essoncontrolling means.

8. A tone-governing'apparatus-fof miisiiob cal instruments. comprising, 'in combination,

means to providefpneumatic pressure; ex- .b pression-controllingl means to vary 'said pneumatic pressure for sounding 'tones with different intensities; a plurality of 'govern- 110 ing means, means' rendering saidvlgovernng means 4alternatively operative foi ,the.ex` pression-controlling means; and additional governing means coperable with each of said plurality of governing-means.' 9. A tone-governing -apparatus for musi-f calinstruinents comprising, in combination, means to provide pneumatic pressure';'e x'-' lpression-controlling means to vary said pneumatic pressure for sounding tones with 120. different intensities; a-plurality oflv governing means for'xthe expression-controlling means; means rendering said governin means alternatively-o erative'4 and addi-*- tional manually-control ed governing'means 12B coperable with each ofsaid plurality o'f governing means.v

10. A tone-governing apparatus for musical instruments comprising, in combination; a tracker; expression-control'lingy means`;130

governing means for the expression-control .l

ng means, governed by a plurality ofA tracker vents; and alternatively-operative overning means-for the expression-control- 'ng mea-ns, governedy by a single tracker vent. y

1l. A tone-governing apparatus-for musical instruments comprlsing; in' combination,

etracker; expression-ntrolling means;-`

governing means for the expression-control-- ling means1 governed by a plurallty of tracker vents; and alternatively-operative` governing means for the expression-control lng means; alternatively-operatlve partly automatic and partly manually-controlled overnmg means furthe expresslon-controling means; a trai'nker connected lto said automatic governing means, and ,means relnlor-v governing meansalternaM ing said several tively operative. p

1 3. A tone governing apparatus for musil cal instruments comprising, in combination,

tone sounding means; means to control they sequence ofn sounding of respective 'tonesL mcludlng .a note sheet havlng a slngle per y foration for each of a plurality ofy tones to be sounded; means for varyingthe eective power of said tone `sounding means; exf

pression governing means for controlling said power variablen, including means automatically operable from the note sheet;l and furthermeans controllable by the operator `'controlling agelt;l mechanism for causing' i todetermine the extent of said power'varia' 40 tion caused by said automatically operable expxession governing means.

14. Atene govermng apparatus for musical instruments comprising, ln'oomblnatlon,

tone sounding means; means to control the` A5 sequence of sounding of respective tones, including note sheet havin a single pers foratlon for each of a plurallty otv tones to be sounded; means for varying the eective powery of, said tone sounding' means; expresu sionl governing n'xeans for controlling. said power variation, including means for automatically determinin the time of operation thereof; and variab e means to determine the ultimate effect of the operation of said expression governing means at suchti'n'ie.

15., Atone goverl'nng apparatus for musical instrun'lents comprising; in comlnation, tone sounding means; means to control the `sequence 'of sounding of respective tones, including n note sheet having" a single perfor-ation for each of a plurality of tones to be soiimded; means for varying the effective powerof said tone sounding'means; expression governing means for controlling said 65 power variation, including means for autodetermine the ultiljnateelect oftheopera "tion of said expression governingnieans `a`t tive governing means forvatitomatically set y i 10x" matically determining the timeof operation i thereof; and manually controllableineans to` suchtime.. c y y, y c

16. A tone governing apparatus `for "musi cal instruments comprising, ncombinatioa, i

tone sounding means; 'means to oolitrol th'csequence of sounding; of respectivetones,r in-` cludinga note sheet havin asingle (perforation for each of a plura ity off/concar to -bel sounded; means .for'var ing theI el'ective power of said .tone soun ing'ieans; ex pression governing means "for controlling said power varlatlon; including means for auton'iatically determining the timeof-joper-` 4ation thereof; and means controllablebyu` the operator for varying the ultimate of the operation of said governingymeanal, 17. tonegoverning apparatus for musical instruments comprislng, in combina ti'on, expressionfcontrolling means; automatic governing means. therefor telnet' up a plurality of different grades of intensities; and alternative governing means'.`

presslomcontmllinglmeanf for au matically setting Vup momentary" accents -fo 18. A tone-governing` pp aratustorgmusical instruments comp' ing, in'y combina# tion, expression-contro l1ngmeans; 4govern-y in means therefor tofsietuyp a plurality 'of H di rerent grades olf inteiisitiesgi,` andalternaselected ting up momentary accents;4 y N 19.` A tone'governing apparatus'for mu sical; instruments comprising, in combina-k tiontone-soundinfggjmeans governed `bya enduring 'variations 1n saidy controlling agent for soundingtones at different levels 'y o g' lntensity; and alternative autornaticallyyy` operable :means for momentarily "varying j y said controlling agent for accenting tones.

20. A tmlagoverning apparatus `for musical :instruments i' com rising,` in combina-` tion, expressionacontro ling means, a tracker havingl plurality of expression-vents therein; automatic mechanism governed by said plurality of.y `vente for varying the` c X- pression mechanism to produce diierentj levels l of intensity; and 'alternatively-operV ative means governed by one of said plurality of vents to vary said-expresaioncomr l y trollm means.` 1 i .i 120 21. tonegoverning apparatus for niuf sical instruments' com' rising, iny combina-My tion, expression-contro ing means," n' tracker having a`plurality ofcxpression-vcnts; and

a pllirality of overnng means mtlwlex-` i pression-contro ling means; controlled, `rmv spectively by oneandall said plurality-0f tracker vente. fu so@ y as *c for the exf 9o` i fos;

for governing the latter by opposed forces;

l automatic means to vary those. Said forces acting in one direction; and means controllable by the operator for varying the summation of said forces acting in Ithe opposite direction. t

A tone governing'apparatus for musical instrument-s comprising, in combination, a container for regulated pressure; a high exhaust chamber; a .valve to govern communicationbetween regulated pressure and` high exhaust; expression-controlling means to govern said valve; governing nie-ans for the expresson-controlliug4 means; a controller for the latter means; addi-tional nasale? -two subscribing Witnesses.

governing means intermeiiate said controller and the expression-controlling means for modlfying the control bythe former of the latter; and switch-valve-Inechanismfor connecting said respective governing means alternatively with the expression-controlling means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of CHARLES F. STODDAR-D.

Witnesses: l OsoAn 'W. GUELIGH, vMama; LEWIS SHEFFEB. 

